Mustelids in Europe

Part II

Species Identification

As an addition to the article about Mustelids in Europe, this will give you more information about the mustelids on a species level and will help you with species identification. What follows is an overview of the members of the mustelid family occurring in Europe. Definitely, in the smaller mustelid species, males are significantly larger than females. Each species will be briefly described with attention for identification and how to distinguish between related species. There will be links to observado.org for pictures and IUCN Red List for more information, distribution and images about the species. But feel free to google more if you get additional questions.

Stoat versus weasel

Underparts whitish (from throat to tail)

Length without tail between 15 to 30 cm

(Least) Weasel – Mustela nivalis

Length of the tail more or less same length as hind legs

Size of a rat

Border between underparts and upperparts is uneven wavy (sometimes straight line between upperparts and underparts and white feet)

Winter & summer coatThe black tail tip of the ermine remains black during winter. Potentially to attract the attention of predators, so they will go for the tail. Weasel ‘s tail is potentially too short for this strategy. This phenomenon is also not occurring everywhere. In the (Least) Weasel, individuals in Belgium and the Netherlands are very rarely seen in white. It is believed this ‘colour changing’ line is Somewhere in the Netherlands & South England.

Eurasian Polecat, Ferret, Marbled Polecat, & Steppe Polecat

Only white on the head, body more darkish (exception for Marbled Polecat)

Otter – Lutra lutra

They can travel several kilometres overland from one body of water to another. They are excellent swimmers and can stay submerged for as long as five minutes. Otters find most of their food in water, but they sometimes also eat small mammals and birds. They are adapted to the life in and around the water. Their eyes have modified to be able to see underwater, and they blow out air and suck it in again to be able to smell underwater.

Otters are larger than mink, with a longer head and a thick tail. They are uniform (light) brown with greyish throat. They have a similar size as a beaver, but beavers are rodents (so don’t eat fish) and they have a flat tail, whereas the tail of an otter is round.

Eurasian Badger – Meles meles

Eurasian badgers are very characteristic and difficult to confuse with other species of the mustelid family. They could be potentially mixed up with a Raccoon or a Raccoon dog in areas of overlap. Eurasian Badgers have distinct colour markings such as greyish dorsal fur, and prominent black and white head stripes. Their body is silvery-grey with black legs.

Unlike most mustelids, Badgers walk with their feet flat on the ground. (more like bears, their tracks also look like small bear prints). They have small eyes and ears. This is an adaptation as they spend quite some time underground. Eurasian Badgers are living in an elaborated burrow system, so called setts. If not disturbed, they use the same sett year after year. Their favourite food is earthworms, but they forage for anything eatable.

If you want to know more about mustelids (weasels, polecats, martens, otters, badgers, etc.), check out the other blog about Mustelids in Europe. Or get some recommended books for more detailed information.